Post by Michelle on Jan 15, 2009 11:16:33 GMT -6
How to Store Water and How Much to Store
A person needs at least one gallon of water per day. Use clean, food grade containers for storing water. You will need additional water for bathing, washing dishes, and other water needs.
Ways to Purify Water
There are numerous methods to purify water. Always filter water using a piece of cloth or coffee filter, then boil. To boil water, bring to a rolling boil for 1 minute (boiling for 10 minutes total). If you choose to use an additional treatment only use one after boiling. The water should not be cool when adding a chemical treatment. A temperature of approximately 70* is recommended. The following list tells how to use the chemical treatments available:
Bleach
Unscented liquid household bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite) can be used to purify water. For clear water, use 2 drops of bleach per quart or 8 drops (1/8 tsp.)of bleach per gallon. If the water is cloudy, use 4 drops of bleach per quart or 16 drops (1/4 tsp.) of bleach per gallon. When purifying five gallons, add 32 drops (1/2 tsp) to clear water or 64 drops (one tsp) to cloudy water. By purifying a larger quantity of water, you will cut bleach usage 20% over the one gallon at a time method. Let the water stand for one hour. If the water does not have a slight chlorine smell it is still contaminated. Add the same amount of bleach again and let the water sit for another hour. If the water still does not have a slight chlorine smell at this point the water is too contaminated and will need to be discarded. If bleach is more than one year old, it loses approximately 50% strength. In this case, the amount of bleach should be doubled. Note: Always start with the minimum amount of bleach and add more if necessary. Too much chlorine is toxic!
Dry Chlorine
Calcium hypochlorite, the dry form of chlorine, comes in granule or powder form. The easiest way to calculate usage of dry chlorine for purifying water is to convert the dry granules to liquid bleach form as needed. To do this, dissolve one-ounce of 68% granules in one-pint of water to make a 5.25% liquid bleach solution. Then use the solution following the guidelines for liquid bleach listed above. Note: Dry chlorine will release chlorine gas in small quantities. Keep in a tightly sealed container and use only in a well-ventilated area.
Stabilized Oxygen
Stabilized oxygen can be used to purify water and is neither harmful or foul-tasting. For use, add 10 drops of stabilized oxygen to treated water or 20 drops to untreated water. This method can be used for long term water storage.
Iodine
Use 2% tincture of iodine for purification. For clear water, add 4 drops per quart or 16 drops per gallon. Double the amounts for cloudy water. Note: Iodine treated water should not be used by pregnant or nursing women or by individuals with thyroid problems. Long term exposure to iodine can cause liver problems. If possible an alternative method of treatment is preferable over iodine treatment.
Purification Tablets
Iodine based purification tablets can be bought for water purification use and while unopened maintain a long shelf life. These are usually found in camping or sporting good departments. Some kits also include an additive that helps to remove the iodine taste from the treated water. These tablets should only be used for emergency water purifcation and not for long term use. Follow the package directions for use.
Distillation
Distillation is a method of boiling the water and collecting the vapors that condense back to water to remove contamination. To distill water, fill a pot halfway with water. Tie a cup to the inside of the pot lid so the cup with hang right-side-up inside the pot without dangling into the water. Boil the water for 20 minutes. The water that drips from the lid into the cup is distilled.
A person needs at least one gallon of water per day. Use clean, food grade containers for storing water. You will need additional water for bathing, washing dishes, and other water needs.
Ways to Purify Water
There are numerous methods to purify water. Always filter water using a piece of cloth or coffee filter, then boil. To boil water, bring to a rolling boil for 1 minute (boiling for 10 minutes total). If you choose to use an additional treatment only use one after boiling. The water should not be cool when adding a chemical treatment. A temperature of approximately 70* is recommended. The following list tells how to use the chemical treatments available:
Bleach
Unscented liquid household bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite) can be used to purify water. For clear water, use 2 drops of bleach per quart or 8 drops (1/8 tsp.)of bleach per gallon. If the water is cloudy, use 4 drops of bleach per quart or 16 drops (1/4 tsp.) of bleach per gallon. When purifying five gallons, add 32 drops (1/2 tsp) to clear water or 64 drops (one tsp) to cloudy water. By purifying a larger quantity of water, you will cut bleach usage 20% over the one gallon at a time method. Let the water stand for one hour. If the water does not have a slight chlorine smell it is still contaminated. Add the same amount of bleach again and let the water sit for another hour. If the water still does not have a slight chlorine smell at this point the water is too contaminated and will need to be discarded. If bleach is more than one year old, it loses approximately 50% strength. In this case, the amount of bleach should be doubled. Note: Always start with the minimum amount of bleach and add more if necessary. Too much chlorine is toxic!
Dry Chlorine
Calcium hypochlorite, the dry form of chlorine, comes in granule or powder form. The easiest way to calculate usage of dry chlorine for purifying water is to convert the dry granules to liquid bleach form as needed. To do this, dissolve one-ounce of 68% granules in one-pint of water to make a 5.25% liquid bleach solution. Then use the solution following the guidelines for liquid bleach listed above. Note: Dry chlorine will release chlorine gas in small quantities. Keep in a tightly sealed container and use only in a well-ventilated area.
Stabilized Oxygen
Stabilized oxygen can be used to purify water and is neither harmful or foul-tasting. For use, add 10 drops of stabilized oxygen to treated water or 20 drops to untreated water. This method can be used for long term water storage.
Iodine
Use 2% tincture of iodine for purification. For clear water, add 4 drops per quart or 16 drops per gallon. Double the amounts for cloudy water. Note: Iodine treated water should not be used by pregnant or nursing women or by individuals with thyroid problems. Long term exposure to iodine can cause liver problems. If possible an alternative method of treatment is preferable over iodine treatment.
Purification Tablets
Iodine based purification tablets can be bought for water purification use and while unopened maintain a long shelf life. These are usually found in camping or sporting good departments. Some kits also include an additive that helps to remove the iodine taste from the treated water. These tablets should only be used for emergency water purifcation and not for long term use. Follow the package directions for use.
Distillation
Distillation is a method of boiling the water and collecting the vapors that condense back to water to remove contamination. To distill water, fill a pot halfway with water. Tie a cup to the inside of the pot lid so the cup with hang right-side-up inside the pot without dangling into the water. Boil the water for 20 minutes. The water that drips from the lid into the cup is distilled.